Manga artist Kentaro Yabuki, famed for hits like the *To Love Ru* series, *Black Cat*, *Yamato Genso Ki*, and *Ayakashi Triangle*, is nearing his 30th anniversary in the industry. While he might not have an active serialization right now, fans worldwide still adore "Master Yabuki," especially for his unparalleled talent in drawing female characters.
On May 4, Kentaro Yabuki took to his X account to share some rare behind-the-scenes glimpses from his time as an assistant under Takeshi Obata, the artist behind *Hikaru no Go*. He reminisced about being a fresh-faced 18-year-old, on the cusp of officially diving into the manga world.
Yabuki explained that these were photocopied background instruction sheets for *Hikaru no Go*, from his one and only stint as an assistant, right before his own serialization was confirmed, when he was almost 19. He revealed that these precious pieces of history were originally destined for the trash, but he salvaged them.
Every time he sees them, he's transported back to that mix of excitement and nervousness he felt, ready to set sail into the vast ocean of the manga industry.
▼ Fans of *Hikaru no Go* will surely recognize these iconic scenes.
Yabuki's time as an assistant under Obata clearly laid a solid foundation for his drawing skills, contributing to his excellent fluidity and detailed artwork.
This experience undoubtedly paved the way for his official debut in 1999 with *Yamato Genso Ki*, serialized in *Weekly Shonen Jump*. Of course, he had already published two one-shot stories with the same title in *Akamaru Jump* and *Weekly Shonen Jump* the year prior, but back then, he was still an assistant, without his own ongoing series.
For those unfamiliar with these photocopied sheets, Kentaro Yabuki offered a quick explanation: when a manga artist delegates tasks to assistants, they often draw instructions directly onto photocopies with a pencil. In the era of traditional hand-drawn manga, a photocopier was practically essential in every studio.
He emphasized that these sheets represent the work Obata assigned him during his sole assistant gig, making them incredibly precious memories and vital nourishment for his growth as a manga artist.
It's truly remarkable to think that Yabuki was just 18 and assisting Obata, only to debut his own serialization in *Weekly Shonen Jump* the very next year, followed by *Black Cat* the year after that. Talk about a meteoric rise!
No wonder the now 46-year-old Yabuki looks back and marvels at his younger self's audacity to plunge into the vast ocean of manga at such a tender age. Given his incredible achievements, it's safe to say he absolutely crushed it!
via： 矢吹健太朗官方X